Melbourne Cup legend Red Cadeaux has been euthanised due to injuries sustained during the running of the Melbourne Cup earlier this month.
One of the race favourites, the horse pulled up shortly before the finish of the race that stops the nation after suffering a break in its left foreleg.
The stayer, who had become a Cup favourite after several near-misses in recent years was immediately rushed to a nearby vet, where it was hoped he might be saved, but Racing Victoria confirmed on Saturday that the horse had been put down.
"It is with great sadness that Racing Victoria (RV) advises that Red Cadeaux has today succumbed to complications from the injury he sustained in the Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington on 3 November 2015," RV said in a statement.
"The connections of the English stayer have made the heartbreaking decision to humanely euthanise the horse after irreversible complications arose with the loss of blood flow to the foot on his injured left foreleg."
"Experts at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre at Werribee, where the horse has been under veterinary care since the race, advised that there were no means by which they could successfully address the complication."
Trainer Ed Dunlop said today was his "saddest day in racing."
"Red Cadeaux was a much loved member of our family and my thoughts are with his owner Mr Arculli and my staff, particularly Robin Trevor-Jones and Steve Nicholson, who spent every day caring for this horse,"
"Unfortunately the complication was irreversible and the decision to euthanise the horse, whilst terribly hard, was made in his best interests."
"Red Cadeaux has given us and the racing public so much joy competing with great distinction across the world. He was an incredibly tough competitor with a wonderful nature and he will be dearly missed by all.
"I want to thank all the vets in Australia, particularly at the University of Melbourne Equine Clinic, that have worked tirelessly on the horse since the race and given him the very best of care.
"On behalf of Mr Arculli and my staff, I also want to thank the Australian public and his racing fans from around the world for their wonderful support and well wishes during what has been an incredibly tough time for us all."
Owner Ronnie Arculli said; "For a race that stops a nation we were lucky to have a horse that touched a nation. We will miss Red Cadeaux dearly."
Red Cadeaux is the fourth horse to die as a result of injuries suffered during the Melbourne Cup in the past three years.
Two horses died after racing in the Melbourne Cup in 2014 and one in 2013.